So long, Vick; the NFL betting community is abuzz with Brett Favre chatter this week. He finally signed with Minnesota and sportsbooks responded, upping the Vikings’ odds of being a powerhouse. They were +180 to win the NFC North a last week and now they’re +125. The assumption is that pocket passer Favre makes the Vikings better, but I wonder how true that is. Here are a few factors to consider in your betting management.

FAVRE’S FITNESS

Favre has a rep for not enjoying training and preferring to simply gunsling footballs all summer. However, at this stage of his career, his success correlates with how hard he trains. When he had his massive comeback season in 2007, he had hired a personal trainer and worked himself into great shape the offseason prior. Before starting with the Jets in 2008, he didn’t work out much, instead just tossing balls to high schoolers, and he immediately regressed. This offseason, Favre has done very little training, so he’s more likely to be the Jets incarnation than the Packers one. That means he’ll take a lot of hits, make some hurried throws and, quite possibly, throw as many interceptions as touchdowns. In other words, he’ll do what Sage Rosenfels would’ve done at a fraction of the price.

RUNNING GAME

Adrian Peterson is the man, but will Favre make him better? AP isn’t a great pass catcher. He excels when he gets the rock 20-plus times a game and bludgeons defenses. With Favre in the lineup, will coach Brad Childress feel obligated to throw more and use AP less? It could weaken the running game.

RECEIVERS

At the absolute best, the Vikings receiving corps matches what Favre had at his disposal in New York. Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice can get deep, but can Favre still throw the deep ball? Percy Harvin is the real wild card. He and Favre could form a dynamic tandem, but Harvin is a rookie—out of bust-heavy Florida. He’s no guarantee to flourish. It’s thus fair to wonder if Favre will have a tough, between-the-20s, surehanded guy like Donald Driver or Laveranues Coles in Minny at all.

In conclusion, I’d be careful with the Vikings in my online betting. Favre could help them but he could just as easily hurt them, as he’ll force them to fix what isn’t broken on offense. Remember that before making Minnesota your NFL picks this season.

The big football bet handicapper picks are up as well as the NFL gambling previews of Colts-Eagles and the Bengals-Patriots. But it’s always maximum betting spread information here and now we look at tonight’s games from the expert view Bodog Sportsbook.

Time for Peyton Manning to get to work. There is a new left tackle, a bunch of young receivers, and an old guard coming back.

Tonight Week 2 of NFL preseason continues when the 3-point favored Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts hook up. Bodog has the total at 36.

The Colts plan to hold out 10 players, including six starters. Safety Antoine Bethea and defensive end Raheem Brock are both out with broken hands, Kelvin Hayden is out with a hamstring injury, and Robert Mathis will not play because of a bruised thigh. Safety Bob Sanders and kicker Adam Vinatieri won’t play either

Besides Michael Vick, Philadelphia plans to leave at least seven regulars home, including four of its projected starters on the offensive line and backup QB Kevin Kolb.

Those changes have prompted the Colts to revise their traditional preseason approach. Instead of simply trying to avoid injuries, Manning wants the starters to get a little more work.

Get your NFL Exhibition Odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.

Now to the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots.

n last week’s high-scoring victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Tom Brady was very sharp, completing 10-of-15 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Will the New England Patriots use him as much in this game?

The Pats, who are 7-point favorites, have to make a decision on who is going to be the backup quarterback to Brady. That makes me think Andrew Walter and Kevin O’Connell will get more snaps against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Backers must be thrilled with the New England running game so far. Then again, it is ideal for preseason games because it is about guys fighting for position.

The Patriots have failed to cover any of their last five exhibition games. Look for Cincinnati to make a better showing after such a poor effort in their opener, even if they don’t have Carson Palmer. Palmer suffered a high ankle sprain against New Orleans and has been walking around with a boot since.

Previews are courtesy of Bodog. lso tonight it’s the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets in MLB betting.

After their most productive game of the season, the Atlanta Braves face Johan Santana and the -130 favored New York Mets tonight.

Atlanta and New York have split the first two games of this three-game set, becoming the first teams to exchange innings of eight runs or more on consecutive days of the same series since Cleveland and the Yankees did it 2006.

Santana has had little trouble shutting down the Braves offense, posting a 1.96 ERA in seven starts against them. The lefthander, though, is 1-4 over that span, never getting more than two runs to work with.

Atlanta will counter with Kenshin Kawakami. He has not won since July 8 against the Cubs, losing three decisions since then. The righthander gave up three runs and seven hits in Atlanta’s 4-3 victory over Philadelphia on Saturday.

Kawakami will be facing a New York lineup missing most of its regulars due to injuries.

Looking to build some momentum, the Minnesota Twins will try to finish with a series win over the Texas Rangers when the clubs close a four-game set today.

Minnesota is trying to win three of four against Texas. After losing the opener, the Twins have taken the next two, including an 5-4 victory Wednesday.

Texas dropped one game behind Boston for the AL Wild Card lead. The Rangers had won eight of their previous 11 before the recent defeats.

The Twins will hand the ball to struggling Anthony Swarzak. Swarzak has lost his last three starts, allowing 18 runs and 25 hits over a combined eight innings.

Fellow rookie Derek Holland will take the mound for Texas. Holland is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts.

The lefthander pitched four innings against Minnesota on July 19, allowing three runs in a game the Rangers went on to win 5-3

Get your  MLB odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!

How will the announcement that new Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari will forfeit a second Final 4 appearance, this time with the Memphis Tigers affect the odds to win the 2010 NCAA Tournament? The early March Madness 2010 odds have Kentucky at 6/1 to win it all.

But the future is now. While square guys are most concerned about Jocelyn Saldana nude photos by Zach Hyman Photography, the sharp player wants tonight’s NFL picks.

Here is the rundown of the football expert picks for Thursday night.

The nation’s most successful handicapper based on units won, all sports combined, has the biggest play of the NFLX odds season so far, by any handicapper.

Led by Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy, GodsTips has the first Wise Guy of the NFL season on Cincinnati-New England. We have both sides and Bengals-Patriots total.

Oh, a windfall profits night again. Winning MLB card 15-of-20 was thanks to hitting the White Sox +124 and Dandy Dog Pittsburgh +150 in a Wise Guy sweep. In addition to three NFL winners, GodsTips has added two night underdogs—a Wise Guy and a Major. Click now to purchase

Now to superstar the message from superstar Stevie Vincent: Thank you so much to the professional bettors who have locked into our full season pick pack. For those who don’t want to commit completely yet, this is the perfect time to buy at least the three day pass minimum. Friday, The Great One has the first Level 5 game side of the pro football preseason. Saturday it’s the first Level 5 over/under.

Tonight, the highest rated play so far in NFLX. It’s a Level 4 game side on Indianapolis and Philadelphia, plus the over/under in that game. Get three pro baseball including the Thursday Afternoon O/U of the QUARTER CENTURY. Click now to purchase

Last and certainly not least is the power of 620 sports services behind every selection, the MasterLockLine. An attorney/law professor/pro bettor turned pro bettor/professional handicapper out of Tri Cities, TN is best known for being the greatest SEC handicapper of all-time. However, he is also the top NFLX totals handicapper, based on all-time units won. Supreme Selections are his highest rated plays. He is 4-0 in NFLX already: Sunday Aug. 13 it was Buffalo over, Thursday, Aug 13 it was New England over, Friday the Rams, Saturday the Bears over. Bengals/Patriots total goes tonight

Staff Purchase Play, this is when we pay a major sports service to release a major play before the sports service itself does. A radio tout is advertising on 200 plus radio stations and radio networks their Preseason Stone Cold Lock of the Year on Cincinnati/New England

A satellite radio driven Las Vegas based website offers the top pick of each of their top handicappers for $89 for the day. Frankly only four of the handicappers are worth tracking. The rest are horrific. We have the top play from each of the top four: Eagles/Colts side and total and two MLB

Click now to purchase sports betting picks from the top sports services or you can get more information and a free sports pick      

Hurricane Bill may be weakening, but the top sports betting site is getting stronger. Leave the Letterman Top 10 lists to Britney Spears, but the online sports betting tips to the experts.

Watercolor experts make their conclusions about Caster Semenya photos and her ambiguous genitalia. Of course it’s the watercolor juries of Joeybagofdonuts and Sheri Moon Zombies of the world that keep the sportsbook in business.  

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The NFL stages games in New England and Indy, the Reds take on the Giants, and the PGA Tour hits the links in Greensboro.

Colliding on the gridiron . . .

The official gambler’s Colts-Eagles betting preview as well as the Bengals-Patriots for bettors are both up.

The second week of the NFL‘s preseason schedule kicks off on Thursday night with Cincinnati at New England and Philadelphia at Indianapolis. The Patriots are pegged as 7-point home favorites over the Bengals, and they got 100 yards and two TDs from the returning Tom Brady in their 27-25 win over the Eagles in their exhibition opener. The Eagles are 3-point road favorites against the Colts this week. Michael Vick isn’t eligible to play for Philadelphia until next week’s contest.

An important message from superstar football betting expert Stevie Vincent: Thank you so much to the professional bettors who have locked into our full season pick pack. For those who don’t want to commit completely yet, this is the perfect time to buy at least the three day pass minimum. Friday, The Great One has the first Level 5 game side of the pro football preseason. Saturday it’s the first Level 5 over/under.

Tonight, the highest rated play so far in NFLX. It’s a Level 4 game side on Indianapolis and Philadelphia, plus the over/under in that game. Get three pro baseball including the Thursday Afternoon O/U of the QUARTER CENTURY. Click now to purchase

Headlines…

Plaxico Burress has accepted a guilty plea and will spend two years in jail for shooting himself in a Manhattan nightclub…The Minnesota Vikings are reporting a huge spike in ticket sales since signing Brett Favre…In entertainment props news, rumors are that Jon Gosselin is trying to get fired. Michelle Obama has been spotted in shorts at the Grand Canyon and the Octomom publically admitted she is an idiot. Meanwhile OffshoreInsiders.com CEO Joe Duffy is devestated to see his alma mater, California University of PA is not among the Top 10 US News college rankings.   

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

Matt Cain (12-4, 2.49 ERA) will take on Aaron Harang (6-14, 4.35 ERA) on Thursday afternoon as the Giants finish off their three-game series in Cincinnati. Righthander Cain took a no-decision against the Mets last time out, giving up three earned runs over his 7 1-3 innings of work. Cain last won back on July 24. Righthander Harang took yet another loss last time out, despite giving up just two runs over seven innings vs. the Nats. Harang has one victory in his last 15 starts.

Elsewhere on the NL schedule for Thursday it’ll be Arizona at Philadelphia, Colorado at Washington, Atlanta at the Mets, St. Louis at San Diego, the Cubs at the Dodgers, and Florida at Houston. Josh Johnson (12-2, 2.85 ERA) will get the ball for the Marlins; righthander Johnson beat the Rockies last time out (one earned run in 7 1-3 innings), and Florida is 5-1 in his last six starts. Wandy Rodriguez (11-7, 3.05 ERA) goes for Houston; the righthander is coming off an ugly outing vs. the Brewers in which he gave up 10 earned runs in four innings.

Meanwhile, there are just five games on the AL schedule for Thursday, with Seattle at Detroit, the Angels at Cleveland, Baltimore at Tampa Bay, Minnesota at Texas, and Boston at Toronto. Jon Lester (9-7, 3.71 ERA) will take on Brett Cecil (5-1, 4.35 ERA) in that last matchup. Lefthander Lester is on a streak of four straight no-decisions, and he was beaten by the Blue Jays back on July 19. Lefthander Cecil is 2-0 with a no-decision over his last three trips to the mound.

Tipping off on the hardwood  . . .

The WNBA has two games on tap for Thursday, with San Antonio at Atlanta and Indiana at Sacramento. The Fever improved to a league best 19-5 straight-up and 16-8 against-the-spread on the season with an 82-59 drubbing of Detroit last Saturday. Katie Douglas had a team-high 19 points for Indiana in that win, while Briann January contributed 17 points off the bench. The Monarchs fell 78-61 to Los Angeles last time out, and they’re at 7-18 SU and 8-16-1 ATS on the season.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

Finally, the PGA Tour offers up the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina starting on Thursday. Vegas oddsmakers have Sergio Garcia pegged as the 10/1 favorite to win this week’s tournament, which is missing most of the Tour’s top names. Lucas Glover is next at 12/1, with Tim Clark at 15/1, and both K.J. Choi and David Toms back at 20/1. Defending champion Carl Pettersson is well back at 50/1 odds to get the trophy.

The Philadelphia Eagles are three-point road favorites at the Indianapolis Colts according to BetUs Sportsbook, rated No. 1 by OffshoreInsiders.com. Here is the official betting preview to beat the NFL preseason lines.    

Indianapolis had a disastrous game against Minnesota last week at the point of attack. QB Peyton Manning was sacked three times in six plays. Counting the backups, the Colts allowed six sacks in 37 offensive snaps. Now they face on the most aggressive blitzing teams. TE Dallas Clark, who missed the opener, is probable.

New Eagles QB Michael Vick will not travel with the team. Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook is also out as it second string QB Kevin Kolb, LG Too Herremans, DE Trent Cole, CB Sheldon Brown, LB Omar Gaither and the brothers Stacy and Shawn Andrews. Philadelphia will have just one regular starter on the offensive line in this game, C Jamaal Jackson. A total of seven regulars are out for the Eagles.

Philadelphia is expected to play their starters for at least a half. The Colts of course will remain with their best defensive player Bob Sanders. Backup QB Jim Sorgi remains out. The Colts are also without starters K Adam Vinatieri, DB Raheem Brock, CB Kelvin Hayden, and DE Robert Mathis. 

Starting QB Peyton Manning is actually campaigning for more playing time than he got in the preseason opener. Head coach Jim Caldwell said the starters will get about 20 plays this week.

Top expert pick on this game:  There is no question that it is revolutionary handicapper Stevie Vincent. For those who don’t want to commit completely yet, this is the perfect time to buy at least the three day pass minimum. Friday, The Great One has the first Level 5 game side of the pro football preseason. Saturday it’s the first Level 5 over/under.

Tonight, the highest rated play so far in NFLX. It’s a Level 4 game side on Indianapolis and Philadelphia, plus the over/under in that game. Get three pro baseball including the Thursday Afternoon O/U of the QUARTER CENTURY. Click now to purchase

The Cincinnati Bengals play at the New England Patriots. The Patriots range from a 6.5 to 7-point favorite with a total at 36 or 36.5, depending on the sportsbook.

Bengals starting QB Carson Palmer is out according to ESPN, but the Bengals have not officially ruled him out with his mildly sprained ankle. J.T. O’Sullivan will start and play 1 ½ quarters with Jordan Palmer playing the rest of the game. Their top pick RT Andre Smith is a holdout.

Cincinnati is 3-2 straight up in preseason series meetings. In his first action since the first quarter of the first regular season game last year, Tom Brady completed 10-of-15 passes for 100 yards and two touchdown tosses.

The Bengals only have one starter on the offensive line back at the same position from last year.

New England WR Wes Welker missed the Eagles game and three ensuing practices. He said he is ready to play but the decision is head coach Bill Belichick’s. DE Ty Warren also missed the last game, but it back practicing.

Several Patriots have said this may be the toughest camp ever. While Tom Brady is expected to start behind center, as per usual with Belichick, his number of snaps expected is unclear. However, Kevin O’Connell is expected to be the No. 2 QB not Andrew Walter. RB Fred Taylor, who also sat out the first game is probable.

Top expert pick on this game: Considering the top NFL handicapper of all-time is GodsTips led by Grandmaster NFL handicapper Joe Duffy and their first Wise Guy is on this game side, that’s a no-brainer. In fact, get both NFL sides and also the total on the Bengals-Patriots, plus MLB for just $17. Click now to purchase at OffshoreInsiders.com.

Your offshore sportsbook has the Giants as a 2.5-point underdog when they head to Soldier Field on Saturday night, and they haven’t beaten the Bears in Chicago in four straight trips to the “Windy City“. However, with the Bears’ new quarterback getting used to his receivers, this looks like the best time to halt the slide.

Giants vs Bears Odds – Saturday, August 22, 8:00 PM ET

The Giants beat Carolina 24-17 in the most exciting game of the first full week of preseason, as they lost a 12-point halftime lead, but won on a Tommie Hill fumble return with no time left on the clock. New York also showed that they were willing to continue to be a running team, racking up 139 yards on the ground on 4.3 yards per carry. They also forced five turnovers, four of which were fumbles coming off quarterback sacks. Any team with a pair of defensive ends like Justin Tuck and a healthy Osi Umenyiora will be among the top NFL picks because of their ability to pressure the opposing pivot.

Jay Cutler didn’t have a great beginning to his Chicago era, going 5-of-10 for 64 yards and a pick in a 27-20 loss to Buffalo, partly because of below-par receivers, but mostly because he made some bad throws. It’s going to take time for Cutler to get a rhythm with his new receivers, but it was only the first game, so Chicago fans shouldn’t be worried. The three quarterbacks that played combined for four picks, with three coming from Brett Basanez.

The NFL betting line favors Chicago, and the fans will be eager to see Cutler make his home debut. But if the Giants’ defense plays the way they did against Carolina, he’s in for a long night. The Giants swarm from the ends, and the secondary is underrated. Cutler is still working out the kinks in learning the new system, and it could prove to be a steeper curve than people expected, especially with the group of receivers he’s dealing with. Take the Giants to end their problems in Chicago in a betting software

 upset.